Happy News + Michigan Recap

For those of you that don't already know...we're engaged! It's been a long but wonderful road (next month will be 8 years together), and he finally popped the question when we were in Michigan visiting his brother. We drove up to Traverse City near Lake Michigan (4 hours north of Ann Arbor/Detroit) to check out Sleepy Bear Dunes and wineries. He asked me along this quiet sandy beach, and I said yes. Thank you to everyone that has supported us! I guess I need to figure out a new nickname for him since 'The bf' doesn't apply anymore...
If you're up in the area, visit Chateau Chantal and Chateau Grand Traverse. They are beautiful wineries that you can also stay at.

While up in Traverse City, we went to Frenchie's Famous (3 pics on the left) for their famous pastrami sandwiches. Best I've ever had in my life! FYI, the dining room only seats 8 people and is always packed. We stopped by 7 Monks Taproom to celebrate! Nice bar with amazing food.   

While back in Ann Arbor, we went out to eat a lot! I know this isn't the typical format I use for my recaps, but I'll spare you guys since we went to MI earlier this year.

Try Curry Up (cute name) for fast, delicious and spicy Indian food!

We got to go to a University of Michigan Football game! OMG the "The Big House" was overwhelming. It fits 120,000 people! Lots of UM pride in Ann Arbor. My college experience as a Terp was nothing like this.

After the game, we grabbed pizza at New York Pizza Depot (NYPD, haha), which was ok, but seemed to be a popular pizza place around campus.  

The best pie ever at Achatz! All handmade pies. We bought a Four Berry pie with Michigan cherries, and I was in heaven.

Thankfully we missed the long line wrapping around Zingerman's Deli when we got lunch! We split a roast beef sandwich at one of Ann Arbor's most popular deli's. It was good but I wouldn't wait in line for it.

While we were walking around town, we stopped into Jolly Pumpkin for some local brews on tap. The Bam Biere (left) was one of the best beers I've ever tasted, and is one of Men's Journals' Top 25 Beers in the US.

If you want to try a local coffee chain, Sweetwaters has delicious drinks! We needed our caffeine fix, and this hit the spot.

Angelo's is still my favorite place in the world for a mind-blowing reuben. I refused to share!

For good and cheap sushi, we went to Saica for dinner with the family. They give you tons of food!

Thanks for reading and more posts to come!

Food Blogger = Fattie Girl

I'm typing to you guys as I'm lying on my living room floor in exhaustion from my first night of Insanity workout. I'm sure many of my fellow food bloggers that write restaurant reviews can agree with me - it's HARD to stay in shape and write about bone marrow, pork belly and crack pie. I have ZERO will power when it comes to snacks, which is why I had sweet potato chips and chocolate for dinner.

Tonight I've decided to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle. Oddly enough, I'm canceling my gym membership tomorrow morning because I don't go, (bores me) so I'd rather use that $ towards something else. I'm going to give Insanity workout a try, and be more active in general like breaking, wall climbing, riding my bike, hiking, hot yoga, etc.

I'd like to try this Whole30 Program, which is pretty much eating like a vegan for 30 days to cleanse your system (meat, seafood, eggs, tons of vegetables, some fruit, and plenty of good fats from fruits, oils, nuts and seeds.) Seems SUPER hard, but could be beneficial. I'll let y'all know!

I appreciate all of you that read on a regular basis. Hope to get my next post, which is about burgers (how ironic) up this week!

Recap of Denver, CO

Hey Everyone! My brother and his family moved to Denver, CO from Phoenix, AZ earlier this year. The bf and I have never been to Denver before, and were excited to see the fam and scope out a new city. If you're ever planning a trip out there, check out some of the places we went to and ate at!

Day 1

Yogurtini
8000 E. Belleview Ave
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
(303) 770-1005

My brother and his family live right outside of the city in the suburbs, so there were a lot of strip malls with yummy places to eat. Almost right off the airplane, the kids wanted to get frozen yogurt. Hey, I'm always down! At $.39/ounce, they have at least 10 self-serve flavors. Lots of fruity ones, unique 'martini' flavors and toppings like Sriracha. We ended up going twice during our trip, and I was IN LOVE! So cute and clean in there. Compared to all of the other froyo places in the area, this is my family's fav.   

Larkburger
8000 E. Belleview Ave
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
(303) 779-0093


For lunch, we had burgers at this Colorado-based gourmet burger place. Everything is all-natural, biodegradable, and energy-efficient. We ordered a Larkburger (beef), Truffle Burger, Tuna Burger, Kids Meals, Fries and Truffle Fries. The burgers themselves are actually pretty small, but I guess that helps with portion control.  Even with their size, they pack a flavorful punch! We really enjoyed them as well as their fries. Sad we don't have them in DC.

Bones
701 Grant St
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 860-2929


We drove into Denver for dinner an Asian-fusion restaurant. Cute neighborhood, and the weather was perfect for eating outside. Even though I thought it was a pretty nice place, they had crafts for the kids. 

We ordered Steamed Buns, Egg Noodles, Ramen and Soba. We all tried one another's dishes and they were good! I enjoyed the different noodles, but thought the buns were a little dry. 

REI Flagship Store

To work off our dinner we headed over to the flagship REI store to walk around. It's actually in an old  converted railroad building. It's HUGE!! They have a wall climb, multiple levels, an awesome bike testing area outside, class rooms for workshops, and every item you could ever need to be outdoors. The building is right next to a river, so we saw people fire-twirling and biking in the dark. If you are a lover of the Great Outdoors, you must stop by. 

Paris On the Platte
1553 Platte St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 455-2451

After working off dinner at REI, we went for 'after-dinner' drinks at this cafe/bar. The vibe was hippie-chic. Dog paintings on the walls for sale, people with laptops and sketch books surrounded us. We ordered Milkshakes, Rootbeer Floats and an Egg Cream Soda. It was an interesting place to stop into since we were in the area. My Chai Milkshake was the bomb.com, and I need to find a place that makes one around DC.

Day 2

The Buff Restaurant
1725 28th St
Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 442-9150


Our destination for the day was the Rocky Mountains for hiking. We stopped by Boulder, CO to fuel up on a hearty breakfast. It is located right next to University of Colorado - Boulder, which I've heard is an awesome place to go college especially if you like being active. I ordered Sourdough French Toast, which sounded different, but I ate the entire thing! My belly was happy. 

Our family chowed down on Breakfast Burritos, Pancakes (The biggest ones I've ever seen! They were on Man Vs. Food), Eggs Benedict, Kid's Menu Bacon and Eggs. The place has delicious food and large portions. It's located next to a motel, so it's not anything fancy, but check it out if you're in Boulder. 

Rocky Mountain National Park

I have so many nature pics, but decided not to freeze your web browsers, so here is a small taste of the Rockies. The park is 415 square miles of wilderness that goes all the way up to 14,259 ft high! It would've taken hours to drive up there, so we ended up kind of driving and stopping in places we thought were nice like one of their many waterfalls. It's only 1.5 hrs NW of Denver, so go breathe some fresh air, enjoy the silence and take in the beautiful sights!

Boba and Crepes
1154 S Colorado Blvd
Glendale, CO 80246
(303) 759-2737

It was a LONG day of hiking and driving, so on our way home we quenched our thirsts with some bubble tea. Good bubbles, sweet and flavorful tea. I got their Almond Milk Tea, which I gave my stamp of approval. The place smelled so good! The smell of crepes is similar to fresh waffle cones.

Day 3

Biker Jim's Restaurant
2148 Larimer St
Denver, CO 80205
(720) 746-9355

Typically when I'm on vacation I do a ton of research on where I want to eat. This trip I decided to go with the flow since it was to visit family, and figured they knew where to eat. However, this was the only place I insisted we try! They specialize in hot dogs made of game animals! We originally tried finding their cart using the address on Yelp, but they aren't always there as we learned the hard way. So my suggestion is to just go to the actual restaurant. We shared some Deep Fried Mac and Cheese, and Charred Tahini Cauliflower.

Can't go wrong with Alaskan Reindeer, Duck Cilantro, Rattle Snake/Pheasant. OMG....so cool and yummy! The reindeer was a hit for us, while the duck and rattle snake were more mild in flavor. You can also get different toppings on them including cactus, wasabi aoili and cream cheese. I recommend coming here! When else can you say you've eaten Elk or Wild Boar?

Ferril Lake at City Park

More after-food exercise! Rented a 4-person bike cart and paddle boat. Surprisingly, both of those items were a lot of work to get around. The park has museums, a lake, trails, playgrounds, etc. Unlike Central Park in NYC where a bazillion people are all up in your space, there is a sense of peace and relaxation even though you are in the middle of the city.

Pho Saigon
9555 E Arapahoe Rd
Englewood, CO 80112
(720) 873-8899

After monkeying around, we fed our new appetites with some noodle soup. You probably cannot tell, but the bf's bowl was ginormous, and I didn't think he could finish it...but he did! The pho was satisfying, and the place was pretty packed. Out of all the pho restaurants in the area (I didn't even know Vietnamese people lived in Colorado), my family recommends this place.

Cherry Creek State Park

This was my first time swimming in a lake, and at first I thought it was going to be one of those algae, mosquito-covered lakes you see at camp. Thankfully I was wrong! It is HUGE, and surprisingly clean. They brought in sand, so it's a nice place to hang out and catch some rays. There is a picnic area with grills, a playground and lots of trails for biking. I was surprised to feel how hot Denver can feel. Since the elevation is higher, you're technically closer to the sun, so the rays are strong. 

Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill 
630 S Colorado Blvd
Glendale, CO 80246
 (303) 757-5900

Starving once again! My family loves to eat. Similar to Chipotle, but with a Mediterranean twist. We all ordered pitas with either chicken, shwarma or falafel. They have so many toppings that you can add to your dish. The falafel was drier than I prefer. You get a ton of food and it's a healthy option for lunch or dinner. It's funny that they offered burritos, which the bf ordered and adored.

Dry Dock Brewing Co
15120 East Hampden Avenue
Aurora, CO 80014
(303) 400-5606

The bf and I took my bro's car to a local brewery for a mini-date. They do not serve food, however they have free popcorn in a machine. It's literally a tasting room with some TVs and view of the brewery. I got a pint of their Apricot Blond and the bf got the sampler! I loved my beer because it was light and fruity as the name suggest. The bf's favorite was their Vanilla Stout since he likes dark beers. You can buy bottles and sodas to-go.

Big Bill's NY Pizza
8243 South Holly Street
Centennial, CO 80122
(303) 741-9245

Last dinner of the trip was spent at their favorite pizza joint. Pizza, bread sticks, wings and ice cream! The place was packed. The ice cream was a local brand and their Key Lime Pie flavor was a big hit with us. I wouldn't characterize the pizza as being close to authentic NY Pizza, but it's ok in its own way.

Day 5

Illegal Pete's
5312 DTC Blvd. #400
Denver, CO 80237
(303) 771-2277

Last meal before we left was a Chipotle-inspired place. The bf and I got burritos that we'd order at Chipotle. He always gets chicken, and thought Illegal Pete's meat was seasoned better. I always get vegetarian, and I didn't think it was as good, but not bad. My sis-in-law and niece shared fish tacos that they thought were tasty, but too messy.

Dazbog Coffee
Denver International Airport

There are a lot of locations around the city, but we didn't get a chance to try it other than right before our flight. We ordered blended coffee drinks, which was surprisingly delish! I ordered a White Chocolate drink and the bf tried their Vanilla. 

Thanks for reading guys! Hope this was helpful, and I will bid you adieu with a picture of my niece and nephew's Pillow Pet collection =) 

The Cupcake Social - May 4th @Blackbryd

My beautiful, selfless friend, and fellow food blogger Michele from Squirrels-n-Sweets is participating in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day AKA she's walking 60 miles in 3 days (crazy!!) to raise money for breast cancer research. Come support her event! Read below what sparked the creation of The Cupcake Social. This girl has a heart of gold.

If you are a bakery or blogger that would like donate cupcakes, hit us up! The more the merrier!

The event will be held Friday, May 4th at Blackbyrd (U Street Corridor, DC) from 5:30pm to 8pm!


All you have to do is show up, make a donation in the amount of your choice ($10 recommended) and select a free cupcake.  Thanks to so many generous local bakeries for donating their goodies! Wait! There's more! You will also be entered into a raffle for giveaway prizes. Cupcakeries include:

Alexandria Cupcakes (Alexandria)
Bake Shop (Arlington)
Baked & Wired (Georgetown)
Mom's Office (Fairfax)
Occasionally Cake (Alexandria)
... and more to come!

(Written by Michele) So what sparked The Cupcake Social?

Last year, I received some shocking news: my co-worker had breast cancer. No one directly associated to me has ever been diagnosed. The closest I've come was my ex supervisor's mother who had passed away year's prior. It's one of the most widely known forms of cancer yet it didn't touch my world. Until Susan.

I wasn't ready to hear something so scary, so personal., so close. We work in the same office. She's the mother of two little girls- I bought scout cookies from them. She constantly has a smile on her face and a light hearted comment to add. I have been fortunate to work with several accomplished women in a male-dominated business and she is one of whom I take notes from.

She didn't let us see her fall though. She kept right on going, even after two surgeries. One day, I was irritated in the office and she asked me what was up. I had my tiny rant. And then I realized who I was venting to- a person going through so much is the one listening to my punk @$$ complain. Unbelievable.

Some people complain about the attention breast cancer gets... and then I heard Susan say she was not doing this for herself.

She was doing it for her daughters' futures.

It hadn't occurred to me that they may be in the same jeopardy as their mother one day. There's something very powerful about the love women possess. Maybe that's why this cause gets such passionate support.

Go Blue! - Ann Arbor, MI Trip Recap

With 80 degree weather in the DC area, Michigan might not be high on the list of destinations this time of year, but the bf and I had a fun (and cold) time with his family anyway! I swear I was the only person in full snow attire with a puffy coat, hat, scarf and gloves. It was in the mid-30's and that's apparently considered a mild winter! I wanted to share some delicious places to check out if you're ever in the Home of the Wolverines.

Day 1

Beirut Restaurant
7650 Merriman Rd
Romulus, MI 48174
(734) 326-1000

We took an early flight and ended up in Detroit before we could get picked up. With time to kill, we took a short cab ride to eat some Lebanese food that we found on Yelp. By the way, it was snowing and 2 guys were smoking outside in tshirts...maybe we're just weaklings.

We ate a lot! We ordered spinach pies, chicken wrap, falafel wrap, french fries, rice pudding and Turkish coffee. Our favorite items were the wraps and home made fries, which all had a very pungent garlic sauce. The service wasn't great (think high schoolers working at their parents' place), but food came out fairly quickly. Random, but the server was in love with my camera, so I let her shoot around the restaurant.

Day 2

Maize and Blue Delicatessen
1329 S University Ave
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 996-0533

If you didn't already know, Ann Arbor is home for the University of Michigan. This college town has a lot of school pride and great sandwiches. We were taken to two famous deli's for a taste competition. Thankfully with the students being on Spring Break, there were no lines anywhere!

We ordered the New Yorker (Pastrami, turkey, Switzerland Swiss, Dijon mustard and onion on grilled sourdough rye) (top) and the Maize N' Blue Special (Roast beef, smoked turkey, cheddar, Jarlsberg cheese, honeycup mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion, mild pepper)(bottom). Out of the two, I liked the Maize N' Blue Special because the honeycup mustard added a nice kick. 

Angelo's
1100 Catherine St
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 761-8996

We then stopped by Angelo's On the Side to compare against Maize and Blue. The original restaurant is next door, but this is their carry-out location. That must have been a pain to write on that board so neatly...

We ordered a Reuben (subbed the corned beef for pastrami, sauerkraut, thousand island dressing, Swiss cheese).  It's served warm on their homemade bread. Tastes best dipped in their hot sauce. OMG, I'm salivating as I type. I still think about this sandwich at random times, like loading the dishwasher. That's what you call memorable. I'm sure you can tell... this is my winner!

The Scrap Box
581 State Circle
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
The bf's niece celebrated her 9th birthday at a very unique place. They are a "place for creative recycling", which means they sell you donated scraps. The scraps can be used for craft projects, art classes, etc. I'm all about being green! Companies and individuals who donate the materials would have thrown them away anyway. During the party we decorated magnets, made marble mazes and ate birthday cake. It was a cute time.

Seoul Garden
3125 Boardwalk St
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
(734) 997-2121

For her birthday dinner, we went out for Korean BBQ. Our table was filled with beef, chicken, vegetables, soup and sushi. All of that for 4 adults and 2 kids! Everything was delicious and the service was on point.

Day 3 


Seoul Street
1771 Plymouth Rd
Ste 101
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
(734) 719-0085
This was my first time trying Korean fried chicken. It's characterized by its thick, crunchy skin and hot and spicy glaze. After ordering over the phone and then waiting over an hour in person (ridiculous), we finally got our order of wings and thighs. Was it worth the wait? Probably not, but I was impressed! Tasty, spicy, crispy, juicy and filling.

Ann Arbor has some great food and I was happily surprised. Family - If you're reading this, thanks for having us!